Monday, July 29, 2013

Welcome to my Light in the Darkness meme! (If you missed my post on the inspiration for this meme, you can read all about it HERE.)

This
is the place to share good things that are happening in our
world...whether it's a link to a news article/video, something from your
personal experience...anything good that can bring light into darkness!

***************

If you've been following this meme each week, I'm sure you've been touched by the many wonderful stories that have been shared. There have been stories of triumph, trust, love, & compassion. I know I've been encouraged & brought to tears many times through these stories.

Today, I'd like to address a question that may have been on your mind...

"What can I, personally, do to spread Light in the Darkness, beyond sharing these stories?"

If you use your favorite search engine & type in "Random Acts of Kindness", you will soon find hundreds of ideas. I'd like to share 22 that I love, just to get you started. Some you've probably heard of before, some may be brand new, some you may already do or have done. I'm sure you can find at least one that stands out to you & I encourage you to give it a try w/in the next week.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

1) Pay for the order behind you in the drive-thru line.

2) Allow shoppers to go ahead of you in the store, esp. if they only have a few items & your cart is loaded.

3) If you have an Aldi near you...when you are done w/ your cart, give it to the next person w/out taking their quarter.

4) Help another person w/ their packages/groceries.

5) Make or send cards to nursing home residents. (I work at one & many residents NEVER have visitors.)

6) Hold the door for someone.

7) Have gift cards (restaurants, grocery stores) on hand to give to beggars.

8) Wave others in front of you when driving, esp. if they're at a stop sign & there's so much traffic, they'll be waiting a long time.

9) Send a note of thanks for good service or share good things that you hear about. (More people send complaints, so a nice letter would be much appreciated & welcome.)

10) Do a family member's chore (in secret, if possible!)

11) Take home-baked goods to local fire or police stations.

12) Leave your change in the vending machine for the next person to use it.

13) Compliment a stranger on their clothing, hairstyle, purse, etc.

14) Compliment someone's child in front of the parent. (Momma might be having a bad day & that little compliment might just raise her spirits.)

15) Pick up someone's tab in a restaurant. (This happened to may sister & her family once...what a wonderful surprise for them.)

16) Leave a note or money in a library book to surprise the next reader.

17) Place sticky notes w/ positive messages on restroom mirrors (at home or when out & about).

18) Share memories...Find a photo of a friend or family member, send it to them w/ a note about the memories associated w/ that photo.

19) On trash or recycling day, pull up your neighbor's cans after they've been picked up.

20) In grocery store lots, put away wayward carts &/or pull carts together in the car corral. Offer to take another shopper's cart to the corral.

21) If someone you know is having financial difficulties, anonymously send them money or a gift card for groceries, gas, etc.

22) Hand write letter or notes:

* people from your past or family members & their influence on your life

* thank you to community organizations

* police, firemen, postal workers, etc.

* _______ (Fill in the blank...the possibilities are endless!)

Can you come up w/ any others to add to this endless list? Please share them in the comments. I guarantee that by doing just one of these, you'll be spreading "Light in the Darkness" to those around you. You might just make someone's day!

2
comments:

Beautiful, beautiful list!I try to remember the little things. I try to be a hospitable driver and person in line like Eileen. Someone once paid for my breakfast at a fast food drive thru. I was so surprised! We never think people will do that for us.

Praying for an End to Abortion

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
(Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director Priests for Life)

Who Am I?

I'm a 40-something wife to a wonderful husband & mother of five munchkins (The Prophet, The Archangel, The Princess, The Saint, & a baby born into Heaven) Like most mothers, I wear many, many hats: wife, mother, doctor, teacher, chef, coach, referee, etc.

Prayer for St. Dymphna's Intercession

Lord God, Who has graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and has caused her to be an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from these disturbances, and especially to those for whom we now pray. (Here mention those for whom you wish to pray.)

We beg You to accept and grant the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant to those we have particularly recommended patience in their sufferings and resignation to Your Divine Will. Fill them with hope and, if it is according to Your Divine Plan, bestow upon them the cure they so earnestly desire. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

I'm a Reviewer

"Blog of the Year 2012" Award

Special thanks to Colleen at Thoughts on Grace for giving this award to me (January 2013)